“Heart ad libitum“ is a sound and performance piece by Austrian musician, sound, and visual artist Pascal Holper, in which the heart serves both as sound source and as instrument. The heartbeat is amplified through a stethoscope and sonically manipulated in real time.

This performance immerses itself in the fascinating rhythms, melodies, and stories of the heart, delving into the core of our deepest emotions and creating a symphony that emerges from the very essence of our existence.

As the central element of this piece, the heart is more than just a sound instrument - it becomes the source of impulses. In this way, visible traces of the heartbeat emerge - fragile snapshots, a visual translation of the invisible sensations within.

The term ad libitum (Latin: “at one’s pleasure”) forms the basis for improvisation and spontaneity, giving the heart the freedom to liberate itself from all constraints and express itself freely.

Internationally renowned Austrian dance and performance artist Simon Mayer takes on a central role as catalyst and embodiment of the heart. Through physical expression, he makes the heartbeat both visually and physically perceptible. He brings the pulse into motion and becomes a bridge between the inner rhythm and the outer world, translating it into dance and improvisation.

This performance is a poetic reflection on mindfulness, sensitivity, acceptance, transience, and the subjective experience of time - a pause in which the invisible becomes visible. It illuminates tensions such as isolation, the possibility of opening, and the influence of societal conformity. The magic of dialogue as reciprocal perception creates deeper connections and transformation.

The work also focuses on loss - both within the individual and in interpersonal relations. It addresses communication and a deepened understanding of harmony - celebrating the beauty of asynchronicity, difference, diversity, and uniqueness.

The sound of the heart becomes a symbolic language that raises questions about human existence: How does a broken, wounded, grieving heart sound? How does it sound when, sparked by change, it reopens, ignites, and bursts forth with joy? When does it cry out for help? And how does it preserve its wild, free autonomy, its untamed, authentic expression, and unfiltered feeling?

“Heart ad libitum“ is an invitation to an unscripted, intimate sonic and visual journey that fosters a deep sense of closeness, empathy, and connection. It encourages us to listen attentively - not only to the music of the heart, but also to the stories it longs to tell - stories that remind us of the profound and wondrous journey that life itself is.


Artistic Direction, Music, Visuals & Performance: Pascal Holper
Dance & Performance: Simon Mayer
Lighting Design: Jeroen Smith
Lighting Technician: Jan Tomsits
Sound Technician: Florian Decker
Andreas Lehner: Head of Cooperation OHO
Cooperation Partner: OHO - Offenes Haus Oberwart

With the kind support of Eko Health (providing CORE 500 Stethoscopes), Land Burgenland Abteilung 7 - Bildung, Kultur und Wissenschaft, Art in Motion and Silent Disco Germany.





For booking inquiries, please write to: info@pascalholper.com




Photos by Andreas Kronsteiner, Patrick Baumüller.